"Iphigenia in Tauris" is considered by some to be the embodiment of composer Christoph Willibald Gluck's ideals for reforming opera and the pinnacle of his career. Gluck, who composed in the 1700s, objected to the derailing of opera from its theatrical track into a quagmire of predictable structure lacking drama and focusing excessively on the singer. The composer sought to strip away the non-essential, including coloratura arias that don't further the story, so the dramatic heart and soul of an opera would emerge unimpeded.
ACT's long-aborning production of 'The Women' has been worth waiting forSmart, sexy, simply scrumptious ... "The Women" has come to town. ACT Theatre began preparation for this production three years ago, and I am happy to say that it was worth all of the creative energy, time and money that went into it. It's a delight. It's also an extravagant offering with 16 actresses playing 44 roles, dressed in more than 100 costumes in a total of 12 different scenes. This is ACT's definitive statement that the financial difficulties that almost did it in a few years ago have been overcome, and that this is a theater whose place in Seattle is far too important to ever let that happen again.
...who followed a successful career by devoting herself to education and the spiritual lifeRuth Lydia DeJong Richstad died peacefully at home on Vashon Island, on Friday, Sept. 7, in the 90th year of her life. She was born in Power, Mont., and spent most of her life in Seattle, where she graduated from Queen Anne High School in 1936, married Harold Richstad ( now deceased) in 1939 and raised four children.
"Lights On Afterschool," a gala event to celebrate afterschool programs across Washington state, will be held Thursday, Oct. 18, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Pacific Science Center.
For the fifth year in a row, fifth-graders from John Hay Elementary School will be collecting non-perishable food in the neighborhood on Thursday, Oct. 18. The food drive is a service component of the school's annual Move-a-thon fundraiser, and one way the fifth-graders are practicing public stewardship.  
Blaine to hold annual book fair in school libraryThe annual Scholastic Book Fair at Catharine Blaine K-8 is already underway and will continue to run through Friday, Oct. 19. The theme of this year's event is "Blizzard of Books," and students and parents can expect a special visit from Clifford the Big Red Dog.
Thursday, Oct. 25 Teen flashlight pumpkin hunt for youths age 11-16, on Thursday, Oct. 25, 7:15 p.m. Free. Bitter Lake Community Center, 13035 Linden Ave. N. 684-7524.Friday, Oct. 26Fright Night Halloween party and trick-or-treat walk, for children age 2-12, on Friday, Oct. 26: Bags and maps available, 5 p.m.; Trick-or-treat walk, 5:30 p.m.; Fright Night, with games, food, crafts, costume contest and haunted house, 6-8 p.m. (at Lake City Community Center, 12531 28th Ave. N.E.). North Seattle Family Center, 3200 N.E. 125th St., Suite 2. 364-7930.Pumpkin Prowl, on Oct. 26-28, 5-8 p.m. $7/$9. Woodland Park Zoo, 601 N. 59th St. 684-4800.Freaky fall festival, with carnival games, crafts and more, on Friday, Oct. 26, 6-8:30 p.m. $3. Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center, 6535 Ravenna Ave. N.E. 684-7534.Pumpkin flashlight hunt, for children age 4-11, on Friday, Oct. 26, 7-8 p.m. Free. Green Lake Community Center, 7201 E. Green Lake Drive. 684-0780.
THURSDAY, OCT. 25 Teen flashlight pumpkin hunt for youths age 11-16, on Thursday, Oct. 25, 7:15 p.m. Free. Bitter Lake Community Center, 13035 Linden Ave. N. 684-7524.FRIDAY, OCT. 26Fright Night Halloween party and trick-or-treat walk, for children age 2-12, on Friday, Oct. 26: Bags and maps available, 5 p.m.; Trick-or-treat walk, 5:30 p.m.; Fright Night, with games, food, crafts, costume contest and haunted house, 6-8 p.m. (at Lake City Community Center, 12531 28th Ave. N.E.). North Seattle Family Center, 3200 N.E. 125th St., Suite 2. 364-7930.Pumpkin Prowl, on Oct. 26-28, 5-8 p.m. $7/$9. Woodland Park Zoo, 601 N. 59th St. 684-4800.Freaky fall festival, with carnival games, crafts and more, on Friday, Oct. 26, 6-8:30 p.m. $3. Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center, 6535 Ravenna Ave. N.E. 684-7534.Pumpkin flashlight hunt, for children age 4-11, on Friday, Oct. 26, 7-8 p.m. Free. Green Lake Community Center, 7201 E. Green Lake Drive. 684-0780.
The North Seattle Herald-Outlook brought home two awards from the annual Washington Newspaper Publishers Association (WNPA) convention held in Yakima on Oct. 5 and 6.< Editor Vera M. Chan-Pool took first-place honors in the Group IV circulation group (the highest circulation level) for Best News or Feature Headlines.Ronnie Perkins, former Herald-Outlook art-department manager, garnered second place in the Best Group of Ads category for a Wallingford theme page.
Facing an $8,500 fine, 32 days' suspension and possible revocation of its liquor license, Tommy's Nightclub & Grill, 4552 University Way N.E., will close Friday, Oct. 19. According to various news reports, manager Jeff Andrew said Tommy's will shut its doors after its last hip-hop show that night.
s a whole new meaning, thanks to a group of local women. Tired of sitting on the sidelines, Terrie McCoy and Holly Barker decided to get in on the action. They came up with the idea of having their own soccer league. Arena Sports at Magnuson Park seemed like the perfect location for this soccer team, since the women were there often because of their children playing soccer.The two women approached Kevin Brunstad, now the league manager, and he instantly liked the idea.
Though the city and the state Department of Transportation has made Aurora Avenue North a priority, a handful of groups are struggling to find a point of agreement. Last month, the city decided to enact Phase 1 of the Aurora Avenue North Improvements Project, guaranteeing physical changes would be made to the troubled roadway between North 137th and 145th streets.
Volunteers at Seattle's Union Gospel Mission have a hard time accepting thanks for their help. According to them, they get more from the Mission than they can give in return. Dee Carr and her husband started volunteering in 1979 and, despite having given 28 years to the mission, she said she didn't want any credit or thanks. "I was attracted to the mission because they're true Christians in my opinion. They were so kind, so good to us," Carr said. "I feel like they have given me more than I have given them. I was blessed to volunteer there."
General consensus at a Greater Queen Anne Chamber of Commerce luncheon and candidates forum Oct. 18 was that Proposition 1 should be approved. Candidates included city council hopefuls Tim Burgess, David Della, Bruce Harrell and Venus Valequez, a Beacon Hill resident who looked like she was still reeling from the alleged DUI bust in Ballard the night before.That was there. The chamber board itself joined a growing list of opponents by voting by a wide majority last week not to support the $18-billion roads and rail package.
Bringing a unique background to the group's missionMount Baker resident Susan Davis knows herself only too well. "If I say it, I do it," she laughed. The 50-year-old Davis, the new executive director of the Rainier Chamber of Commerce, admits she is one of those who can think creatively and then feel compelled to handle all the mundane, follow-up details. It's an ambidextrous art that should serve Davis well in her new role. She brings a unique resume to the job.